Houston SaberCats Release
Houston, Texas – The Houston SaberCats are pleased to announce JT Onyett as President of the organization effective June 1, 2019.
JT joins the SaberCats from the Texas AirHogs Baseball organization where he was President and General Manager with oversight responsibility for all business areas including sales, marketing, finance and facility operations. Prior to his position with the AirHogs, Onyett was Assistant General Manager of the Sugar Land Skeeters based in Sugarland Texas from 2013-2016 so even though he is from California, this is a homecoming of sorts for JT and especially his wife, Molly, who has long time roots to the Houston area. Prior to his time in Sugar Land, JT began his career with the San Diego Padres minor league affiliate, the Lake Elsinore Storm. Spending five seasons there, he rose from intern to Assistant GM before moving to the Skeeters. JT is an Eagle Scout and was active in both the Chamber of Commerce as the Chairman Elect and the Rotary Club in Grand Prairie.
JT replaces the current president, Brian Colona. In January 2018, Colona joined the SaberCats organization to help launch the new team as well as coordinate the construction of the new stadium. With the recently named, AVEVA Stadium nearing completion, and as part of the long term plan to build an organization with talented individuals experienced in sports and stadium management, Brian will pass the ball to JT for the next phase of the Cats’ life. Colona will remain part of the ownership team and remain involved in various projects currently in the planning stage.
Colona comments on his past 17 months, “Having never seen a minute of rugby in my life until the first SaberCats’ exhibition match, I clearly did not qualify as a ‘Rugby Guy’ but all it took was that first match at Constellation Field to tell me that this sport has a future in Houston. I knew then that I wanted to play a part in making it happen. My time with the Cats has been exhilarating and I’m proud to have been part of getting the team off-the-ground and providing the team and its supporters a beautiful, permanent home – the new AVEVA Stadium. I can’t wait to see and be a part of the amazing memories that will be made at this new facility. Our team, fans, sponsors and the entire City, all of us, can be proud to have joined forces to help to make Houston the site of the only multi-field, world class rugby complex in the U.S. Houston is steadily making itself a destination of choice for many reasons and AVEVA Stadium is an important addition to that list. We are already seeing interest in AVEVA Stadium as a place to hold a number of events in this city that otherwise would go elsewhere. That is really exciting. ”
JT is eager to return to Houston and be a part of the SaberCats pride. He comments, “I look forward to building on what the great SaberCats staff and players have already started as we look toward the future. Sport is about bringing people together and AVEVA Stadium will be a community stage year-round. We will work hard to not only make SaberCats matches exciting events but also fully utilize AVEVA stadium 365 days a year to bring more sports and entertainment to Houston.”
